Student Profile

Megan Valanidas

A designer who took CORe to understand the language of business.

ShareBar

Why did you decide to sign up for CORe?

As a new designer with a background in the arts, this was a great way for me to FINALLY engage in business. In design, we often work in groups during the design process. Every time the subject of business came up, I felt I was not informed enough to participate in the discussion. I signed up for CORe to have more agency in my work.

What was your favorite part of the program?

I really appreciated the community of students that Harvard Business School Online helped us to build. It felt very easy to share information or ask for help from other students in the course. It was also a nice boost when any of my comments got a positive reaction from peers, especially when I got to feel like I was helping another business student - as a designer!!

How are you applying what you've learned in CORe?

It is really helpful as I apply for jobs to be able to demonstrate that I have the capability to consider economic constraints or opportunities. Also, the same kinds of market research methods used in CORe are highly applicable to the types of research we engage in during the design process. That is reassuring in a necessarily messy creative process. It has given me confidence in the creative process as a result.